I will be very pleased to see Chris Christie sworn into office today as our next governor. I respect and admire Chris, and he has already shown that he is ready to make the tough decisions necessary to get New Jersey back on track.

The challenges are many. He assumes a government that has $31 billion in debt and an $8 billion structural deficit for the current fiscal year. New Jersey also has the highest overall tax burden in the nation. Raising taxes can’t solve our problems; spending is what needs to be brought under control.

Governor Christie certainly has his work cut out for him, and I have a few pieces of advice to get him started:

First, find people you trust and get them in place as soon as you can. I would also encourage you to consider opportunities to promote women and minorities — representing the diversity of New Jersey — as you choose your lieutenants. Select a cabinet and advisors on whose wisdom you can rely. You set the policy, then trust them to give sound advice and do their best work.

Second, in Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno you have a resource that no governor before you has had, which gives you the opportunity to shape this role for the state’s benefit. She is a bright and thoughtful woman who will be an excellent addition to New Jersey’s leadership.

It is vital that you stop now and prioritize. It is easy to be distracted by the problems of the day, but to be effective, you need to decide now in which areas you want to make your deepest marks and start pursing them with vigor.

Finally, enjoy it. It is the world’s greatest job and it will be over before you know it.

As you know, I was not an elected governor, so I may have a slightly different perspective on how to best serve our people. On the other hand, you did not serve 10 years as president of the Senate.

Which brings me to my first point: love your senate president. He has a tough job, not just in dealing just with you, but convincing his members to help you with your agenda. They, too, were elected by their constituents.

Remember to strive to bring safety and strength to our cities. Our state will be better for it.

Remember our children are the future of New Jersey. Do not lose focus on nurturing and educating those little ones who are born in difficult situations.

We are all proud of our New Jersey. There are many outstanding citizens who want to help us grow and prosper. Involve them, use them, and most of all lead them well.

I have spent 60 summers at the Jersey Shore. It is one of the amazing gems of our great state. Keep it healthy and clean.

My very best wishes to you as you begin this journey. You have the tools at hand to help our state grow and prosper. You have the intellect, experience and personality to govern and succeed.

Finally, be yourself and be the best you can be. We know you can get the job done. Best wishes to you and your family. It will be an exciting, fun, but sometimes bumpy ride.

Above all, people expect leadership from Gov. Chris Christie. They feel there has been a sense of drift during the Corzine years, justified or not.

Gov. Jon Corzine’s last State of the State message summed up considerable achievements. But during his tenure there was little citizen identification with the governor or the government. So Christie has a great opportunity and I think he will take advantage of it. And we are willing to give him great latitude as long as it looks like he is in command.

Having said that, I think he has boxed himself into trying to cut the deficit without raising taxes, while we expect that basic services will not be cut, pensions will be protected and salaries will remain competitive. I think people expect a little less than what was in his campaign promises; nobody fulfills everything.

There are a couple of issues aside from money that concern me. Continued protection of the Pinelands is critical. It is a battle we can only lose once. Many past critics of Pinelands protection now see the benefits both environmentally and economically, and the governor can make this a glorious cause. Let’s hope.

There is no way to downplay the daunting tasks that lie ahead of New Jersey’s 55th governor. I’d like to offer some brief words of advice based on personal experience:

Try to stay as normal as humanly possible in terms of your role as both a father and a husband. Granted, the word "normal" is probably already a relative term to you now. But don’t miss a game, concert, parent-teacher conference, or the chance to go out to dinner with your wife and friends. These are the opportunities that will keep you grounded and ultimately remind you of what this job is all about. In a nutshell, don’t rule by polling, rule by your heart.

Keep in mind that any missteps you should make will likely end up as front page news. I say this not to frighten, but as a reminder of the irrevocable, life-altering capacity this office holds.

But the fact that you wield the power to improve the quality of life for roughly 9 million people overshadows any of the negatives that might come along with this job.

As I said in my final State of the State address, be honest with the people of New Jersey. They can handle the truth, but more important, they deserve it. Given the difficult times we are in, any tough decisions made will be far better received by simply leveling with the public.

And last, but very important, there is only one private bathroom in the governor’s office. Make it your priority on Day One to claim that for yourself.